Transportation Barriers to Prenatal Care Among Black/African Americans: A Scoping Review

Background Reliable transportation is key to prenatal care (PNC) access and continuity. Disruptions in care due to transportation barriers may increase the risk of poor perinatal outcomes, especially among Black/African Americans. Objective The objective of this review was to synthesize evidence on transportation barriers that Black/African Americans face and how this affects access and continued use of PNC. Methods We conducted a literature search of articles published between 2012 and 2024 across six major databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO, PsycINFO, and CINAHL Complete, to identify relevant studies from April 24 to June 3, 2024. Results Out of 240 records retrieved, 9 studies were included in this review. The findings are aligned with three major themes related to transportation barriers: initiation of PNC, continuity of PNC, and utilization of PNC. Seven studies indicated that the lack of access to reliable transportation contributed to delayed initiation of PNC, missed or cancelled appointments, and the need to reschedule appointments. Two studies found either a weak or no association between transportation and poor PNC attendance and utilization. Conclusions Given the substantial gaps in the existing literature, further research is essential to fully understand the impact of transportation barriers on PNC among Black/African American populations.